Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins said Monday he plans to seek re-election as mayor.
“Even though I’m 72, I’m still healthy. I still care about the city and city employees, and a lot of people don’t want me to quit,” Jerkins said.
“When you’ve got zero taxes with the discount from the county, that’s saying a lot for all the services we’ve got - fire, 911, police. We didn’t lay off anyone or cut back on anyone’s hours during the 2009 flood or the down economy,” he said.
“The biggest problem we’re facing is increasing healthcare costs. Over the last six to eight years, healthcare costs to the city have increased from $600,000 to over $900,000 with less people on it,” Jerkins added.
Born in nearby Lithia Springs and living in Austell since he was 16, Jerkins has served as mayor and city manager for 25 years.
About the Author
